2006 Honda Civic Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Civic most often describe a cracked engine block that leaks coolant and leads to overheating, frequently reported well past 60,000 miles. Sun visors that split and hang into the driver's view and illuminated air bag warning lights also come up repeatedly, along with questions about outstanding passenger air bag inflator recalls.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Cracked engine block leaking coolant

   • 268 complaints (19%)
   • median 102,500 mi at 11.0 yrs old (238 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,333 (median of 41 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners describe coolant loss, a sweet smell, rising temperature gauges and, in some cases, steam or smoke from under the hood, traced by mechanics or dealers to a crack in the engine block. Complaints say the leak can go unnoticed until the coolant is nearly gone, and several report the engine shut off or needed replacement. Some owners mention a warranty extension on the block and say the repair was not covered once the extension expired. Most often reported between about 50,000 and 160,000 miles, with some occurring much earlier and a few described after cold starts.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for coolant residue or staining low on the engine block, confirm the coolant level is stable, and ask whether the block was ever replaced or covered under the extended warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started my vehicle during the night and cold weather drove my car less than five minutes when the inside started smelling like anti coolant. I pulled over to check fluid and noticed the block had a crack in it I have noticed there is a problem in this model of car but it's for ten years of purchase and I never got a letter stating I could get this check earlier I need help”

   NHTSA complaint #10935938, filed 2016-12, 2 miles

   “The vehicle suddenly lost engine coolant as a result of a crack in the engine block. It quickly overheated, and the only warning was that the temperature gauge had risen. There were no other warning signs. A mechanic confirmed that the block was cracked, and that almost all the coolant had leaked out. I believe that the engine could have reached a temperature that could have started a fire if I had not noticed the temperature gauge rising rapidly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10511440, filed 2013-05, 116,000 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sun visor splits and hangs down

   • 221 complaints (16%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (176 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners report the sun visors come apart at the seam or attachment point, stop staying in the closed position and hang into the driver's line of sight. Complaints describe repeated replacements, sometimes under warranty, with the problem returning within months or after another hot summer. Some mention having to duck or hold the visor out of the way while driving. Reported from under 20,000 miles upward, with several owners noting it worsens over successive hot summers.

   What to check: Fold both visors up and down and check the seams and hinge for splitting or looseness; ask whether either visor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2006 Honda Civic ex and as I was going down the highway in afternoon traffic the sun was shining I my eyes so I went to put the visor down and it fell off in my lap and I almost ran into another car. I have not fixed this because I felt like this should be a recall it's a new car. Why did Honda fix the later years if there isn't a problem. Please help us these new visors are $180.00 .”

   NHTSA complaint #10261348, filed 2009-03, 54,651 miles

   “My driver's side sun visor on my 2006 Civic came apart replaced under warranty-when the passenger side came apart they refused to fix it had to pay to get a new one. This is a safety issue because it won't stay up and blocks the vision . Crappy product on a great car. Hold Honda to the fire please.”

   NHTSA complaint #10351803, filed 2010-08, 45,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on or bags not deploying

   • 142 complaints (10%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 8.2 yrs old (90 state mileage)
   • 50 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,350 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2026

   Owners describe the air bag or SRS light staying on or switching on and off, and some report bags that did not deploy in a collision or deployed unexpectedly. Complaints also reference the passenger side inflator recalls and note that the warning light returned after repairs in some cases. Reported across a wide mileage range, from near-new vehicles to well over 100,000 miles.

   Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V268000Recall 17V545000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V346000Recall 05V5720004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Run the VIN against open recalls and confirm the passenger inflator recall work was completed; check that the air bag light comes on briefly at startup and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the freeway going 70 miles an hour and my car cut off and the airbag light came on , I called and scheduled and appointment and towed my car to the Honda dealership . Maura Honda citrus heights , they fixed the passenger air bag , and now my car has all kind of electrical problems .”

   NHTSA complaint #11325930, filed 2020-05, 306,765 miles

   “6/2013 car accident I hit a parked car traveling at approximately 20-25 miles per hour. The airbags did not deploy. The company chosen to do the work (custom innovations in eugene, oregon) did not repair the motor mounts. Which im very upset about and trying to deal with. After having the work done the car was taken to Honda (kendall Honda also in eugene, oregon) to have an assessment of my car diagnosed. The was the motor mount issue and other items oil change, transmission flush and the srs light was on. Honda service dept. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10578075, filed 2014-04, 149,762 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Hybrid battery assist loss and stalling

   • 90 complaints (6%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (79 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners of hybrid versions describe the electric assist dropping out so the car runs on the small gas engine alone, sluggish acceleration, and occasional loss of power or shutdowns while driving. Complaints mention battery and IMA warning lights, jump starts that left the car unable to start, and dealers unable to resolve the problem after repeated visits. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 100,000 miles, often after a battery or software service.

   What to check: On a hybrid, ask about IMA battery health and any battery or software updates, and watch for warning lights during a test drive with the assist active.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had three incidents of complete battery failure on my Honda civc hybrid 2007. With the last incident, on oct. 26, 2007. I felt very shaken because I was pulling onto a highway and an 18 wheeler was coming - the battery failed and I only had the power of a small gas engine. I was forced to pull onto the shoulder of the road to avoid a collision. I have had my car at the dealership three times for the same problem and currently it remains at the dealership since nov. 1. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10208647, filed 2007-11, 41,000 miles

   “Im having the same issue that another recall on a similar model has recieved the dc-dc converter has a problem charging the 12v battery causing engine failure, power failure , stearing failure and ABS failure. I am unable to turn on hazard lights because of it also battery will take u jump but will not keep the charge in the battery. I was driving home and on a flat street the car was losing all instrement lights the power stearing light came on as well as the battery light the ABS light and the ims light. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11288932, filed 2019-12, 185,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on coolant leaks at the engine block and on the air bag system, since those are the two most frequently reported concerns. Verify open recalls were completed and ask for records of any engine block, suspension or hybrid battery work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.